Autumn Newsletter 2009
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Transcript of Autumn Newsletter 2009
Protecting children and uniting families across borders
ISS UK is an independent charity and part of an international network of social agencies. Our mission is to promote and protect the rights and welfare of children, adults and families across international borders.
NEWSLETTERAutumn 2009
Child Abductions Rise
Fact! Globalisation and patterns of
migration are affecting modern
Britain in more ways than one. As
a result we have seen a growing
number of transnational marriages
and relationships. If these break down,
international co-operation is vital
in the resolution of family conflict,
and to ensure the best interests
of the child are always a priority.
Abductions are usually the consequence
of one parent feeling aggrieved by the
separation and/or custody and contact
arrangements. Abduction undoubtedly
causes anxiety and heartbreak to
the parent left behind and can be
extremely traumatic for the child.
The promotion and preservation of
contact between a child and their
natural family is mandated by the
European Convention on Human Rights
and the UN Convention on the Rights of
the Child. (UNCRC) This means when
parents residing in the UK are divorced
or separated there are legal statutes
to address the issue of contact and
access; and there are support services
to provide mediation, counselling, and
advice. However, there are very limited
opportunities to access mediation,
counselling and emotional support for
families when they are separated across
international borders.
This is where ISS UK can help...
We have found that mediation is
the key to a successful and lasting
resolution which ultimately benefits all
those involved.
Our Family Mediation Service utilises
our expertise in mediation based family
counselling, combined with our charity’s
international network, to fill the gap
that currently exists in the provision of
these much needed services.
ISS UK is able to
* Offer advice & support to parents who are divorced, separated or are separating & one parent intends to live abroad
* Try to arrange welfare checks on children abducted abroad
* Provide expert mediation in abduction cases so disputes & conflicts are resolved in a manner which protects the best interests of any child(ren) involved
* Provide expert advice & emotional support to parents who are caught in the intrica-cies of international custody, abduction & access disputes
* Encourage parents to focus on the importance of contact issues in accord with the UNCRC
470 children abducted from the UK last year, an increase of 20% since 2005
Page 2
ISS UK Newsletter Autumn 2009
Q What attracted you to ISS UK?
A It was the opportunity to combine social
work with running a charity again. The work of ISS is fascinating as well as being vital to children and families. The opportunity to work in an international context was also very appealing.
Q What are your plans for the future of ISS
UK?
A I want to see ISS UK grow and offer
services to even more adults, children and families in need of them. With the rise of abductions, trafficking and the increasing number of children and young people in public care who have extended family options in other countries, the organisation is needed more than ever. Therefore growing the service and raising our profile are the two key aims for the next three years.
Q What makes you passionate about the
work that you do?
A The opportunity to make a difference for
a vulnerable child or family is a privilege. Social work is an enormously important profession that works with some of the most difficult and intractable problems in modern society. Extending our services to ensure better outcomes for our clients is a fantastic challenge.
Q Who has been your biggest inspiration
professionally and why?
A My grandmother, who was a midwife in rural
Lincolnshire in the 1940’s and 50’s as well as bringing up 4 children on her own, has been a big influence. Generally though, it is the children and families I have worked with who have taught me the most about social work and they are the reason I have stayed in the profession.
Andy ElvinChief Executive
Happy birthday UNCRC!
This year ISS UK is celebrating
the 20th Anniversary of the UN
Convention on the Rights of the
Child (UNCRC). This Convention
is the most widely ratified international
human rights treaty in history. It
grants all children and young people a
comprehensive set of rights to special
protection measures and assistance.
It all started in the 1940s when the UN
produced the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights. Over the years a
call for a dedicated children’s human
rights treaty was made due to their
vulnerability. On 20th November 1989,
195 governments at the United Nations
General Assembly agreed to adopt the
Convention.
Since the convention was ratified in
the UK in 1991, increasing importance
is given to children. While progress
has been made some issues that
need attention remain and inequality
persists in income, health and
education. It impacts severely on
children’s rights and their life chances.
This Convention is extremely
important in ISS UK’s work as it gives
us a common language with other
countries where national legislation
differs. We also raise awareness of
children’s rights among professionals
in the UK within our training events.
Furthermore we advocate that
children’s rights are taken into
consideration when making plans
or decisions for children through
handling cases that concern child
welfare matters.
Staff Spotlight
Staff Spotlight
Page 3
ISS UK Newsletter Autumn 2009
There is an increasing pattern of local authority
and Cafcass social workers travelling abroad to
undertake assessments. Often these are of extended
family members of children in care in the UK
who wish to place the child(ren) with family overseas.
The aim is laudable as all children have the right to family
life and all family options should be fully explored.
“ ISS UK strongly advises against UK social workers travelling abroad
to undertake social work. ”
It is illegal for an overseas social worker to work in the UK
without GSCC registration and many other countries have the
same constraints.
If a social worker is found working in some countries such
as the USA, Canada and Australia on a tourist visa with no
registration, they may be liable for deportation with no right
of return for breaching immigration rules. In South Africa
practicing as a social worker without being registered carries
a penalty of a hefty fine and up to six months imprisonment.
In other countries, entering on a tourist visa and practicing
social work leaves the worker liable to being charged with
immigration offences.
In addition many believe there is free travel within the EU and
social workers can practice throughout. This is not strictly true.
Any EU social worker can gain a job in any other EU member
state as a social worker with a recognised social work employer
but they must still register with the requisite countries
professional body. Freedom of trade within the EU does not
necessarily mean that a UK social worker can travel to Hungary
to undertake assessments in pursuance of UK cases.
Legal issues aside there are strong ethical, practice and
cultural reasons why the phenomenon of UK social workers
travelling abroad to undertake assessments is poor practice.
Some social services in other
countries object to overseas
workers coming into their
countries to undertake social
work on UK cases. They consider
it disrespectful to their own
social workers and to the
sovereignty of their country.
What if a UK social worker
operating abroad finds themselves in a situation where the
family make a complaint about their conduct? They will have
no professional indemnity or protection. In many instances the
local social services would have to intervene.
In the majority of countries there are local social services
available to undertake work on behalf of UK Local Authorities
and the Courts. It may be that the reports received will not be
in the formats expected by the UK or in the timescales within
which UK based assessments would be produced. However
the “child’s timescale” was never intended to be simply
an expression of the shortest possible time within which to
dispose of a case. It surely means the time it takes for the best
possible outcome for that child to be achieved. Increasingly
children coming into care in the UK will have extended
family options overseas. These options should be explored
fully utilising the resources within the overseas country and
respecting social services teams overseas.
There will continue to be cases where the local social services
cannot undertake the work required. In these instances we
advise that UK social workers seek permission to undertake
social work before travelling and take advice from ourselves
and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as to cultural and
legal arrangements in the country they are planning to visit.
Caution: Social Worker Going AbroadISS UK’s Chief Executive Andy Elvin explains why UK social workers travelling abroad is risky business.
Page 4
ISS UK Newsletter Autumn 2009
ISS UK joins CRIN campaign
In September 2009 we signed the
CRIN (Child Rights Information
Network) petition: –
This campaign aims to stimulate open
and transparent appointment processes
in order to identify leaders with the
appropriate commitment, skills and
experience to work effectively for
children’s rights.
ISS UK continues to advocate
children’s rights issues.
We agree that child rights
NGOs and human rights institutions
for children should do what they can
to encourage and influence positive
changes in the process of hiring
individuals for key child rights job
positions. Thus ensuring that children’s
rights are in fact in the correct hands.
If you would like more information
about this campaign and to take action
yourself then please visit our website at:
www.issuk.org.uk/campaigns
“The future of children’s rights - in whose hands?”
A look ahead...
After a successful first half
of 2009 with the ICP dinner
raising £140,000 and the 50th
World Market raising around
£90,000 we look ahead to what is
coming up in the second half of 2009.
The Kuwait Embassy have kindly offered
ISS UK the use of their Embassy for
a fundraising dinner, which will be
attended by around 70 guests on the 12th
November 2009. The event will help to
increase funds as well as raise awareness
of what the charity does.
ISS UK will have a stall at the
Community Care Live event on 18th
November 2009 at the Business Design
Centre, Islington where our social work
team will be be availablle to talk to
professionals about our work. It would
be great to see you there!
On the 24th November we have the
first coffee party at St.James’s Palace
for the 51st World Market. Invitations
have been sent out so if you represent
an Embassy and have not received it
please contact us immediately. We hope
again to have the support of over 100
diplomatic missions.
And finally... on 26th January 2010 ISS UK
will be holding a one day training event
‘Safeguarding children across borders -
Challenges for good practice. ‘ Our aim
is to help practitioners to find solutions
in the best interest of the child when
safeguarding children across borders.
Please also note that:
ISS UK(International Social Service of the UK)
Unit 1.11 Canterbury Court1-3 Brixton RoadLondon SW9 6DE
020 7735 [email protected]
ISS UK is changing its name to
Children & Families Across Borders
More details will follow in our next newsletter.